Williams County Commissioners Select Projects For CDBG Funds

Projects in Stryker, Jefferson Township and West Unity will be up for a share of $80,000 in grants through Williams County.

The Board of County Commissioners met Thursday, May 12, with Niki Warncke from the Maumee Valley Planning Organization to discuss the applicants for Community Development Block Grant funding. Six communities sent in applications by the April 6 deadline, and two sent in applications afterward.

The board recommended the following projects for funding: Stryker’s Community Center needs an ADA compliant bathroom ($11,200); Jefferson Township for demolition costs ($23,500) and Millcreek West Unity Schools for parking facilities which would make their track and parking lot ADA compliant ($45,300).

In the event the Millcreek application is not eligible, the money would go to the Village of Edon for street improvements.

The city of Bryan is seeking funding through a competitive process for a neighborhood revitalization project.

The board will hold a second public hearing June 9 after which all the applications will become official, Warncke said. All applicants will be informed of the hearing and the recommended funding, she said.

The finalized list must be sent to Columbus by June 17.

The county will partner with two other organizations to get a house built for a low- to moderate-income household.

The commissioners approved an agreement May 12 that has the county partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Williams County and the Maumee Valley North CHIP Consortium.

The agreement calls for the purchase of one lot that will cost MVNCC up to $20,000. The household will be chosen by Habitat through the normal application process and verified by the consortium.

The qualifying household will have a gross family income that is less than 80 percent of the median income for Williams County. The home must be ready to occupy by Oct. 31, 2017.

In other actions, the board:

Agreed to cover the cost of county employees who participate in blood work and screenings at a health fair this fall.